Facebook Unveils New “Bubbles” and Search Features on Reels to Boost Engagement, Personalization
Facebook has announced a series of significant updates to its Reels feature, aimed at making it easier for users to connect with friends, discover new content, and tailor their viewing experience. These enhancements reflect Facebook’s ongoing investment in video and social engagement, building on years of innovation in the space.
“Our goal is to make it even easier for people to connect over the content they care about,” said a Facebook spokesperson. “These new features are designed to bring people closer and help them find more of what they love on the app.”
What’s New:
Smarter Recommendations
Facebook has upgraded its recommendations engine to understand users’ interests more quickly, now surfacing 50% more reels from creators published that day. The platform now shows more relevant, newer content, including a greater share of reels over a minute, which account for a quarter of reels from creators with over 10,000 followers and over 50% of watch time. “We’re showing you more of what you want to see, whether it’s quick clips or longer videos,” the spokesperson added.
Friend Bubbles
A new feature called “Friend Bubbles” allows users to see which reels and feed posts their friends have liked. Tapping on a bubble opens a private chat, facilitating real-time conversations and shared discovery. “Seeing likes from your friends has always been core to the Facebook experience,” the company noted. The feature aims to make exploration more social and interactive.
AI-Powered Suggestions
Select reels now include AI-powered suggested searches, enabling users to dive deeper into topics of interest without leaving the reels player. This provides a more seamless content exploration experience.
Enhanced Control and Personalization
Users can now more easily customize their feed by tapping “Not Interested” on reels or flagging comments that don’t fit the community standards. Saving favorite reels and posts also helps fine-tune recommendations, leading to increased global watch time.
Results and Future Outlook
These updates are already making an impact. According to Facebook, time spent watching videos on the platform has grown over 20% year-over-year in the United States. The company emphasizes that these features are just the beginning, with plans to introduce more ways for users to personalize their experience and connect with others.
“Our investments in video and connection continue to pay off,” the spokesperson said. “We’re committed to making Facebook a place where people can find, share, and enjoy content that truly interests them.”